Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-06-26
THE CATTLE rnusr.
THE PRESENT AID FCrrEE oF TIE LIVE
STOCK ENsINEss


DrVrers' yOarS.sl
The range-men Of the Northwest and
Southwest have been suffering from
many severe trials the last feR years.
The causes which have brought about
these hardships have been many, and
among the principal ones are the fol-
lowing:
l. Badly oyerstocked ranges.
2. Heavy losses taused BY exees-
slyely cold winters and very severe
drouths.
3 Railway and general labor strikes.
4. The general depression Of trades
and industries all over the country.
s. guarantees by ell the northern
sections caused by the quack horse and
COW doctors styling themselves veter-
mary surgeons.
8. Glat and demoralized foreign meat
markets. In 1879 and isso single ex-
port buyers were shipping from 2000 to
1000 cattle every week. Now they only
ship from 30 70 500 cattle and find no
profit in the business. The pleuro-
pneumonia racket has been the cause
81 all this.
:. The heaviest marketing Of beef
cattle ever known in like period.
5. The railroads running East from
Chicago have increased their rate 40
per cent. on live cattle and 50 per cent.
on dressed beef. making 1t cost the
producer from $1.25 to $50 per head.
This increase Is unjust and unreason-
able, and through the medium OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission
We hope this extortion viii soon be
stopped.
9. Then the Oleomargarine bill took
of 81 TO $3.50 head more, making the
enormous aggregate of more than $l5,-
000. 900, and It all comes out Of the pro-
ducers, To all this IL may be added
that some believe the dressed beef
shippers have had much 10 do with
bringing about the present low prices.
With all these hardships and depres-
sions the cattlemen have had about all
they can bear, and they are naturally
looking for some relief. But now, on
top of all these untoward and depress-
ing agencies, comes the gigantic mo-
nopoly called THE Cattle Trust Com
pany," organized with so-called cap
ital OF SIS, 900, 600. The principal or
ganizers Of this sleek and well-coyered
scheme are few cattlemen and
dressed beef shipper who wanted TO
dispose Of their overstocked ranges
and expensive dressed beef plant and
fixtures at good prices They have
now turned them into this Trust
Company. where they can draw big
salaries for trying TO induce other cat
tlemen to join the great scheme by
turning over their herds and taking
" Trust certificates at IS per cent. OF
their so-called par value in payment
therefor.
This great Trust" Company Is GO
ing TO rsvolutionize the cattle trade of
the country and relieve cattlemen of
all their troubles and cause cattle 10
again sell as high as they did in 1882
aud 1883.
Now see how they are going TO do it.
Since this benevolent society was or
ganized the price Of beef cattle in this
market has declined 80 cents per 100.
equal TO 81 per steer
Their Chicago representative opened
the campaign on the 18th Of this month /
by selling at auction in Boston two cars
OF choice heavy beef at an average Of
about six cents per pound, being from
one cent to one and Il quarter cents
lower than the price OF beef in Boston
that dRy II sold in the customary way.
1t Is supposed that this shrewd repre- /
sentative will follow this course in
other Eastern cities and towns. At
these prices We should not want any
Of those Trust" certificates even at
the prices at which they are being
issued namely: 500 in certificates for
800 in value. No doubt all the cat
tlemen Of the country will be solicit
ed TO turn over their herds 10 this
" Trust"
We would advise them, before doing
so, however. 20 carefully consider the
matter and decide whether a gigantic
" Trust company can handle their
business better for them than they can
handle il for themselves.
We think better times for cattlemen
are not far distant: and that ell those
who keep their herds under their own
control win be in q prosperous con
dition IN the near future IS our firm
belief.